Hood closure securing means



' 4 M37. D. P. HYNES HOOD CLOSURE SECURING MEANS Filed Aug. 13, 1936 I5 Sheets-Sheet l May 4, 1937. HYNES 2,079,555

HOOD CLOSURE SECURING MEANS Filed Aug. 15, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ward/21%;?

/5 Mi Li? M May 4,1937. D. P. HYNES 2,079,556

HOOD CLOSURE SECURING MEANS Filed Aug. 15, 1936 3 Sheets-Shdet 3 l mented 4i,

awaits I curios attests noon enosonn snconmo omens Bibi-ell l.

cago horgi 111., a corporation lilynee, Evanston, m,

mg a Manufacturing Co at Illinois asngnor to 6h!- moose,

' Application August 13, 1938, herlal No. MAINS column.

My invention relates to an improvement in hood latches or closures and has for one purpose the provision of a latch applicable for use with a closure of the type wherein the upper por- 5 tion of an automobile hood is'horizontally hinged at the rear of the hood.

One purpose is the provision of closure means which will snap into position and at least partially into holding position, when the hinged portion of the hood is dropped into closed position.

Another purposeiis the provision of a hood closure which may be controlled by a handle posi-. tioned on the top of the hood.

. Another purpose is the provision of latching means for a closure which will not be damaged it the closure is dropped into position.

Another purpose is the provisionof efiective locking and securing means whereby the hood closure may be drawn firmly into locking position.

Another purpose is the provision of composite locking means including a latch adapted to prevent unintended upward movement of the closure, and additional locking means adapted to r draw the closure firmly into full locking position.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in 'the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view from below of the forward end of the hood closure with the parts in open position;

Figure 4 is a section on the line M of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a partial plan view from below of. the locking structure shown in Figure 3, it being shown in Figure 5 in intermediate position, with the looming means released;

Figure 6 is a section on the line t-t of Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a section on the line i- -l of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-45 of Figure 5.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings,

Referring generally to the structure of the device, I generally indicates any suitable hood structure with fixed side panels 2 and a forward 55 grill 3. 4 indicates a hood closure hinged or pivoted as at 5 (Figure l) on any suitable part of the vehicle. The closure I is shown M ending in a species of heel: as at to, shown in Figure 4, but the shape of the parts does not form part of the invention and I do not wish to he limited thereto.

Positioned in the iorward end of the hood, I provide any suitable abutment structure which may include for example a forward member 6 (Figure 2) connected to inclined side members I conforming generally to the shape or the car and provided with an upper transverse member or flange o ands downwardly projecting portion or flange t thereon, slotted at iii to receive the latch below descrihed. The portion c is also apertured as at ii and it desired the sides oi the aperture 9 i may he provided with downwardly projecting ears it at each side thereof. [is shown for example in Figures 2 and 7, I also provide latch abutment members each of which includes a base plate it secured to one of the members i, and an intermediate web or flange it, generally horiaontal in position. Extending from its edge is a downwardly inclined flange as which in turn terminates in an inclined edge having an upset portion or flange it, the pur pose of which will later appear. Secured in any suitable fashion beneath the nose or heal; do of the hinged closure is a supporting plate it (Figure 4) apertured as at it in line with an aperture it of the closure. Secured to the forward end of the plate to is a centering member including flanges it secured to the plate 2t and a downwardly extending portion 2 terminating in any suitable cross section 25, preferably v-shaped. it will he understood that this memher it, it is adapted to penetrate the aperture ii in the cross piece o whereby, when the closure is dropped into position, it tends to center 40 itselt in the proper relation to the fixed portions of the car and hood.

Mounted on the bottom of the plate it, in any suitable fashion, is a latch supporting base memher which includes flanges it at opposite edges, which may he riveted or otherwise secured to the plate it. Extending outwardly from them are supporting flanges 2'1? which are connected by the plate body 28 which is provided with an oiiset 29, extending from edge to edge of the plate in general parallelism with the flanges 21. The oiiset portion or channel it is also provided with an aperture 393 having a bounding hearing flange 3! in general alinement with the apertures 2i and 22 above described. The flanges M are inwardly turned toward the plate 20, as shown for example in Figure 4..

Secured to the outer or lower face of the member 28 and conforming to the channel 29 is an intermediate plate 32 with its own oifset or channel portion 33. Intermediate its ends its channel portion 33 is downwardly turned or inclined as at 34, forming a termination of the channel. The channel portion is also provided with a downwardly extending lug 35, the purpose of which will later appear.

Positioned below the plate 32 is an outer plate which includes the portions 36 conforming closely to the plate 32 and an offset portion or channel 31 which extends downwardly away from the plane of'the portion 36 and which terminates adjacent inclined portion 34 of the channel 33 of the plate 32, as shown at 38 in Figure 4. It will be observed that the channel portions 33 and 31, with their terminations 34 and 38, define a guiding bearing space for a latch bolt which will later be described.

The member 36 is also provided with ears 36 which form bearing sleeves for the rock shaft which will later be described. It is also provided with an oifset boss 43 apertured as at 4|, said aperture being alined with apertures 2|, 22 and 38 above described. It is also provided with limit ofisets or abutments 42, 43 which will later be described. An opening 44 is positioned adjacent the offset abutment 43, for a purpose which will later appear. The-channel portion 31 is also slotted as at 45, the slot being provided at its inner end with a terminal enlargement 46. The three above described plates may be held together in any suitable manner, as for example by screws or bolts 41, shown for example in Figure 8.

53 indicates any suitable external handle located externally of the top of the closure 4. It may be formed in any suitable fashion or ornamental appearance. It is secured to a generally vertically axised shaft 5| which passes through the aperture 22, which aperture may be provided with a bearing sleeve 52. 53 indicates a reduced portion of the shaft 51 which forms a shoulder 54 which may, if desired, rest upon the upper edge of the bearing sleeve .3l of the surrounding aperture 30. The reduced portion 53 passes through the said aperture and sleeve and extends downwardly past the end of the member 32, through the boss 40 and the aperture 41, and terminates in a screw threaded portion 55 which receives any suitable nut 56 and washer 51 which in turn engages a crank 53 which is mounted for movement in unison with the handle 56 and the shafts 5i and 53. Their relative rotation may be prevented for example by squaring or deforming the lower screw-threaded portion 55 of the shaft 63.

The crank 56 is provided with an upwardly extending toe 53, the rotation of which is limited to an arc defined by the abutments 42 and 43. The opposite end of the crank is downwardly offset as at 66 and terminates in a horizontal portion 6| which may be apertured as at 62. Pivoted to it is an intermediate link 63 secured for example by the pin or rivet 64. At its opposite end it is in pivotal relation with a second link 65. The two may be connected for example by any suitable pivot member 66 which terminates with a head 61 positioned on the opposite side of the member 31, the stem of the member 66 riding in the slot 45. Thus the joinedends of the links 63 and 65 are constrained to rectilinear movement along the slot 45. The

opposite end of the link 65 passes about a crank portion 10 which is connected by ofisets 1| with rod portions 12 rotatable in the ears 39. At the outer ends of the members 12 are crank extensions 13 terminating in generally horizontal projections'14 adapted to engage the portions I6 of the abutment members I5, as shown for example in Figure 6, in response to rotation of the handle 50.

Slidable in the channel defined by the members 33 and 31 is a latch plunger with a bev eled forward end 8!. It is normally moved by the spring 82 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 4. Further movement is limited by the engagement of the member 35 with one end of a slot 83 formed in the top of the member. The slot 84 is formed in the bottom of the same memher, to permit the member 61 to move in relation thereto.

The operation of the structure shown is as follows:

The spring 32 normally moves the member 80 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 4. The member 83 keeps its locked position even though the locking crank 14 may be moved out of locking position and out of engagement with the keeper bracket portions 16. Assume that the entire structure is in looking position with the plunger 80 in the position in which it is shown in Figure 4 and with the locking cranks 14 in the full line position of Figure 6, it will be understood that in this position the crank 58 is over center, as shown in Figure 2, and is yieldingly entirely to clear the abutments 16. Then, the

member 61 engages the end of the slot 84 of the member 80 and moves it to the right, against the spring 82, referring to the position of the parts as shown in Figure 4. Continued rotation of the handle thereby effects a complete withdrawal of the member 83 from looking position, and the hood can be lifted by a manual upward lifting of the handle 53. The parts are shown in this unlocked position in Figure 3.

Assume that the closure has been moved into raised position, any suitable means not herein shown are employed for holding it in raised position. When the operator looses the handle, the spring 82 then moves the latch 86 to the 'position in'which it is shown in Figure 4. At the same time the inner edge of the slot 84 moves the member 61 somewhat forward and rotates the crank 14 toward but not into locking position. The farthest forward they can be moved by this movement of v the spring 82 or by their own movement or unintended contacts with the handle, is shown at 14a in Figure 6, or by the position of the parts in Figure 5.

It will be observed that the member 14 cannot be moved far enough toward locking position to be alined to any' substantial degree with the locking abutment l6. If they do graze it at all, they engage the inclined surface [5a, in the event that the upper closure falls or is dropped into closing position, without the operator actually turning the handle. This arrangement has this advantage, that the operator can drop the closure in the locked position, if he wishes, without damaging or bending the members 14 or the keeper brackets I5. In such case the toe 8| of the latch 8!! simply overrides the flange 9 and snaps into locking position in which it is shown in Figure 4. To complete the locking operation, and to render it tight and rattle-proof, the operator then has to rotate the handle into locking position which has for effect simply to rotate the locking crank 14 into locking posi-- tion in relation to the inclined keepers 16.

With the closure horizontally hinged at its rear end, an unintended lifting of the closure, during the operation of the car, might be disastrous. If it happens that the operator forgets completely to turn the handle 5|], or if in any way it works loose, the spring 82, in connection with the member 80, provides positive means for preventing an unintended and possibly disastrous lifting of the hood closure.

In order to make sure that the members N do not spring far enough back to be in position to be damaged, in the event that the operator intentionally or unintentionally drops the closure without turning the handle 50, I provide the following means. A spring 85 is secured to the member 28 as by any suitable bolt 86. It is provided with an ofiset portion 81 terminating in a portion 88 parallel with the body of thespring 85.

The offset 87 is inclined, as-shown in Figure 5,

its face being parallel with the opposed portion of the toe 59 of the crank 58. This portion 8t, 8t projects through the slot M sufiiciently to engage the toe 59, shown in Figure 7. It serves as a limit of the movement of the toe 59 and thus of the arc of rotation of the crank 58, limiting it in such fashion that the position Eta. of Figure 6 represents the closest approach the member it can make to the abutment it, unless the operator gives a positive rotation to the handle 5% sumcient to override the spring portions 31, 88. Therefore, there is no chance of the lock members M being moved into a position in which they can be damaged in the event that the cover is dropped or falls.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to the precise showing of the description and drawings.

I claim:

1. In a latching device, a base, a rock shaft rotatably mounted on said base, a handle rotatably mounted on said base, a crank associated with the inner end of said handle, a link pivoted to said crank, a link pivoted to said rock shaft, a pivotal connection between the outer ends of said links, means for guiding the movement of said pivotal connection, in response to rotation of said handle, in a predetermined path, an additional locking member mounted on said base, and a connection between said locking member and the pivotal connection between said links.

2. In a latching device, a base, a rock shaft rotatably mounted on said base, a handle rotatably mounted on said base, a crank associated with the inner end of said handle, a linkpivoted to said crank, a link pivoted to said rock shaft, a pivotal connection between the outer ends of said links, means for guiding the movement of said pivotal connection, in response to rotation of said handle, in a predetermined path, a locking member mounted on said base, and a connection between said locking member and the pivotal connection between said links, said connection being ineffective throughout a substantial part of the movement of said links.

3. In. a latching device, a base, a rock shaft rotatably'mounted on said base, a handle rotatably mounted on said base, a crank associated with the inner end of said handle, a link pivoted to said crank, a link pivoted to said rock shaft, a pivotal connection between the outer ends of said links, means for guiding the movement of said plvotal connection, in response to rotation of said handle, in a predetermined path, a locking member mounted on said base, a connection between said locking member and the pivotal connection between said links, said connection being ineffective throughout a substantial part of the movement of said links, and yielding means adapted normally to urge said locking member into locking position.

4. In combination, a rock shaft, and bearing means therefor, a crank offset formed in said rock shaft, a handle and bearing means therefor,

said handle being rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rock shaft, a handle crank associated with 'said handle, a link pivoted to said'handle crank, a link pivoted to the crank offset of the rock shaft, a pivotal connection between the outer ends of said links, a latch member and guiding means therefor, and an actuating connectionbetween said latch member and the pivotal connection between the outer ends of said links.

5. In combination, a rock shaft, and bearing means therefor, a crank offset formed in said rock shaft, a handle and bearing means therefor,'said handle being rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rock shaft, a handle crank associated with said handle, a link pivoted to said handle crank,

a link pivoted to the crank offset of the rock shaft, a pivotal connection between the outer ends of said links, a latch member, guiding means therefor, and an actuating connection between .said latch member and the pivotal connection between the outer ends of said links, including a member adapted slidably to engage said latch member, said latch member being longitudinally apertured to receive it.

6. In combination, a rock shaft, and bearing means therefor, a crank offset formed in said rock shaft, a handle and bearing means therefor, said handle being rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rock shaft, a handle crank associated with said handle, a link pivoted to said handle crank, a link pivoted to the crank offset of the rock shaft. a pivotal connection between the outer ends of said links, a latch member and guiding means therefor, an actuating connection between said latch member and the pivotal connection between the outer ends of said links, and yielding means-tending normally to urge said latch to closed position.

DIBRELL P. HYNES. 

